T/N:
Jiejie = older, elder sister
Often used by Best girlfriends who consider themselves to be sisters. The younger girlfriend would be called a Meimei.(Source: Urbandictionary)
Chapter 26
“Who are you? I’ve never seen you before. It’s very rude to judge someone you’ve just met. I’m sure Ai Jiejie doesn’t like impolite people.” Zuo Bian initially wanted to say “Qin Ai,” but Lin Qingqing’s attitude made her dislike the way she addressed Qin Ai with such familiarity, as if challenging her.
Although Zuo Bian didn’t understand the intricacies of social dynamics, she decided to imitate Lin Qingqing’s way of addressing Qin Ai and called her “Ai Jiejie.”
Hearing Zuo Bian address Qin Ai with such intimacy, Lin Qingqing almost lost her composure.
“I remember when Sister Qin and I were young, she loved to play with me. She even praised me for being straightforward, unlike others who are always beating around the bush, hiding their true feelings and making people guess.” Lin Qingqing’s eyes and brows were full of pride as she spoke.
Zuo Bian tilted her head in confusion. “But being straightforward with strangers is just considered bad manners, isn’t it?”
The smile on Lin Qingqing’s face turned awkward. Wasn’t this Zuo Bian supposed to be innocent and naive? Why was she so difficult to deal with? She had to argue with everything she said.
At that moment, a staff member broke the awkward silence as they brought in coffee. “Miss Zuo, Miss Lin, President Qin’s meeting will be over in ten minutes.”
“Understood.” Lin Qingqing elegantly brushed her hair back.
A few seconds later, she regained her composure and returned to being the graceful and arrogant socialite. She took a sip of coffee and dabbed her lips with an exquisitely patterned handkerchief.
【She’s so pretentious, I’m getting goosebumps.】
Zuo Bian emptied her cup in one gulp and said to 555 in her mind, ‘But you don’t have goosebumps. This coffee is terrible. I still prefer lemon tea, it’s sour, sweet, refreshing, and I can drink a whole carton in one go.’
Zuo Bian put down her cup and looked up to see Lin Qingqing staring at her in shock.
Lin Qingqing pointed at Zuo Bian with a trembling finger. “Y-You actually…”
Zuo Bian asked, “What’s wrong, Miss Lin? Is the coffee too bitter for you to speak? It’s not very good, you should add more sugar.”
Lin Qingqing snorted coldly. It seemed that she had regained her confidence from Zuo Bian’s actions. “Someone as crude and unrefined as you must be blind to have fallen for her. Sister Qin and I grew up together. We graduated from prestigious schools, and I majored in music. My angelic voice is the perfect match for Sister Qin’s piano.”
“But I’m prettier than you, I have a better figure, my family is rich, and I have a good personality. Isn’t it normal for Ai Jiejie to like me?” Although Zuo Bian was boasting, her gaze was so sincere that everything she said sounded matter-of-fact.
555 commented, 【This is fighting fire with fire. When the opponent is shameless, you just need to be even more shameless to win.】
“Y-You’re so shameless!” This was the first time Lin Qingqing had encountered someone like Zuo Bian who didn’t play by the rules. Her upbringing prevented her from saying anything too vicious, so she could only call Zuo Bian shameless.
“You don’t look good when you’re angry, you should stop being angry.” Zuo Bian calmly took out a bottle of lemon tea from her bag.
Wanglaoji herbal tea was old news, Coke was too inconvenient to carry around, and Wangzai milk was too strong to wash away the bitter taste of coffee in her mouth. At this moment, lemon tea was the best choice.
Zuo Bian opened the straw and inserted it into the bottle, taking a satisfying sip. The bitter taste of coffee in her mouth finally faded.
Lin Qingqing, who had been called ugly, took out a small mirror from her bag and checked her reflection. Seeing that she was still as beautiful as ever, she glared at Zuo Bian.
Zuo Bian acted as if she hadn’t noticed Lin Qingqing’s gaze and continued drinking her beverage nonchalantly.
“Someone as uneducated and empty-headed as you can only drink lemon tea.” Lin Qingqing sneered, stirring her coffee with a delicate teaspoon.
In Lin Qingqing’s mind, people from the upper class would never consume the same food as commoners.
Zuo Bian finished the rest of her lemon tea in one gulp, letting out a sour and sweet burp.
At that moment, Zuo Bian’s jade-like ears twitched. She heard Qin Ai’s voice.
“If you knew this version of the proposal wasn’t good, why didn’t you redo it until it was perfect? I hired you to work, not to waste my time.” Qin Ai walked with a powerful aura, her manager and secretary trailing behind her nervously.
Manager Chen wiped the sweat from his sparsely haired forehead. “You’re right, President Qin. I’ll have someone redo the proposal right away.”
Qin Ai raised her hand, her expression impatient. “I hope to see a perfect proposal next time.”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Manager Chen unconsciously pulled out a few strands of hair from his forehead. He wanted to cry right then and there, bidding farewell to his precious hair.
Finally, Qin Ai entered the reception room. Zuo Bian, who was facing the door, couldn’t help but stand up and greet her when she saw her.
Zuo Bian initially wanted to call Qin Ai’s name like usual, but she suddenly remembered that Lin Qingqing was still there, so she changed her words.
“Ai Jiejie, you’re finally here.” Zuo Bian’s voice was filled with joy, her beautiful eyes sparkling.
Hearing Zuo Bian’s address, Qin Ai raised an eyebrow in surprise. Although her expression didn’t change much, her features softened a bit.
“Why didn’t you call me when you arrived?” Qin Ai walked towards Zuo Bian.
Lin Qingqing was still pretending to be reserved. She sat calmly on the sofa without turning to look at Qin Ai, so she didn’t realize that Qin Ai was actually talking to Zuo Bian.
“Because I wanted to surprise you.” Zuo Bian’s voice was sweet and coquettish.
“Because I wanted to surprise you.” This voice was clear and straightforward.
Only when Qin Ai got closer did she notice Lin Qingqing sitting across from Zuo Bian. Lin Qingqing looked at Qin Ai with a sweet smile, as sweet as a cloying milk candy.
“Qingqing, I heard you’re back.” The emotions in Qin Ai’s eyes receded. It was clear that her relationship with Lin Qingqing wasn’t as close as Lin Qingqing had claimed.
Lin Qingqing smiled sweetly. “Mm, I just got back this morning. I came to see you first, Sister Qin.”
“Since you’re back, you should go home early and not worry your parents. Xiao Bian, come with me.” Qin Ai glanced at Zuo Bian, then turned and walked towards the door.
“Mm-hmm.” Zuo Bian picked up her bag and quickly followed Qin Ai.
“Sister Qin, can you have dinner with Qingqing tonight?” Lin Qingqing’s voice was soft, and she knew how to use her beauty to her advantage. She truly looked pitiful.
Unfortunately, Qin Ai didn’t turn around and couldn’t see Lin Qingqing’s expression.
Qin Ai said, “I’m sure your parents would rather have dinner with you. Go home early.”
Lin Qingqing wanted to cling on, but she had grown up with Qin Ai and knew her personality. She knew that the more she acted spoiled, the more she would push Qin Ai away.
She could only stamp her foot in frustration, watching as Zuo Bian and Qin Ai left. She had known Qin Ai longer, it must be that woman named Zuo Bian who had seduced her Sister Qin, otherwise, why would Sister Qin be close to her?
Lin Qingqing didn’t dare to act rashly in front of Qin Ai, but she could target Zuo Bian. She secretly plotted how to make Zuo Bian give up.
===================
Meanwhile, Zuo Bian followed Qin Ai into her office. Qin Ai closed the door behind them.
“Sit down.”
Zuo Bian sat down on the soft sofa and placed the box of chocolates on the coffee table.
“Qin Ai, I brought you some chocolates. I didn’t know which flavor you liked, so I bought three kinds: dark chocolate, white chocolate, and milk chocolate. Which one do you like?”
“Would you like something to drink?” Qin Ai took a bottle of jasmine honey tea from the refrigerator and placed it beside Zuo Bian.
Zuo Bian took a sip. “Oh, this is good. I’ve never tried this drink before.”
Qin Ai opened the box of chocolates. Rows of heart-shaped chocolates appeared before her eyes.
Qin Ai unconsciously raised her hand to cover her lips, hiding her amusement. “Why did you suddenly give me chocolates?”
Zuo Bian swallowed the sweet jasmine honey tea and said with a smile, “Because I received a gift from you, but I haven’t given you anything in return. I carefully chose these chocolates, I hope you like them.”
Qin Ai picked up a white heart-shaped chocolate and put it in her mouth. The sweetness of milk and the smoothness of chocolate spread through her mouth.
Actually, Qin Ai didn’t really like sweet and greasy food, but because it was a gift from Zuo Bian, she found it surprisingly enjoyable.
“It’s delicious.” Qin Ai said.
Hearing Qin Ai’s evaluation, Zuo Bian felt relieved. She immediately smiled and said, “I’m glad you like it. Can I have a piece? I haven’t tried them myself.”
Qin Ai leaned closer to Zuo Bian, resting one hand on the sofa beside Zuo Bian’s leg. She picked up a chocolate and brought it to Zuo Bian’s lips. “Here you go.”
Zuo Bian didn’t realize how intimate their position was. She obediently opened her mouth and took the chocolate from Qin Ai’s fingers, her soft lips brushing against Qin Ai’s fair hand.
The slight touch sent a tingling sensation through Qin Ai’s heart.
Zuo Bian smiled. “It’s delicious.”
Unconsciously, their faces drew closer, and the faint scent of tea from Qin Ai’s body filled Zuo Bian’s nostrils.
Zuo Bian’s gaze involuntarily fell on Qin Ai’s alluring lips, her heart beating uncontrollably.
‘555, am I having a heart attack?’ Zuo Bian blinked, and with each blink, Qin Ai’s lips drew closer.
A soft, jelly-like sensation pressed against her lips, and the thumping of her heart was clearly audible.
“Close your eyes.” Qin Ai’s voice seemed to hold magic, making Zuo Bian obey unconsciously.
Qin Ai’s red lips were like honey-coated petals, their sweet and fragrant taste intoxicating. Zuo Bian instinctively sucked on Qin Ai’s lips.
Qin Ai’s soft tongue explored Zuo Bian’s mouth, seemingly wanting to take everything from her. Zuo Bian desperately tried to get some air from Qin Ai’s mouth, but it only felt like she was responding to the kiss.
Time seemed to slow down with the kiss. When it finally ended, Zuo Bian’s eyes were still dazed.
Qin Ai’s fingers brushed against Zuo Bian’s cheek, and she chuckled softly. “Sweet?”
Qin Ai’s lips were indeed sweet, so Zuo Bian nodded.
“We’re good friends, so it’s normal for us to be closer than others, don’t you think?”
Zuo Bian was still a bit breathless, her mind unable to think clearly, so she didn’t hear Qin Ai’s words properly, just nodding vaguely in agreement.
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